THIS N50 BILLION ‘ABUJA BOULEVARD’ NONESENSE

On June 18, 2008, the almighty Federal Executive Council (FEC), headed by Nigeria’s clueless and lame duck president, Umar Yar’Adua, rose from one of its witless deliberations with a mind boggling announcement: the council has approved the development of a N50 billion, Abuja Boulevard. The Boulevard would be developed along a 6.5 kilometer long stretch from the Shehu Shagari Way by the Eagle Square, to the National Hospital. The stretch, according to FCT minister, Aliyu Modibo, contains four major axial roads- Costitution Avenue, Hospital avenue (North), Hospital Avenue (South), and Independence Avenue.

He did not stop there. Owners of over 300 plots along the stretch would forfeit them or be prepared to pay what he called a revised development levy. This means that although you paid N2000 as levy per square meter when you purchased the plots, you would now pay between N50,000 and N75,000, or else. Wait for this…a standard government plot has between 670 and 900 square meters. So you do the maths.

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According to these unpatriotic and insane leaders, they want Abuja to have its own Sunset Boulevard or Rodeo Drive in Los Angeles, or something close to downtown Manhattan, in New York city. Modibbo said ‘ the status of the city of Abuja informed the strong desire of the FCTA to embark on the development to provide Abuja with a downtown and make it more befitting of its status as a world class city. The boulevard area of Abuja downtown, when fully developed, is expected to attract and facilitate all round commercial activities, complemented by a round the clock vehicular and pedestrian movement” Incredible and simply stupid.

And as usual there is the catch…the project would be developed through a public-private partnership arrangement. If we recall what went down in the area of graft in the International airport project handled by Wale Babalakin, under similar arrangement, we know what to expect.

It is sad that after one year in office, with inflation at its highest, cost of living through the roof, and standard of living one of the lowest in the world, Yar’Adua and his gang would sit for eight hours and approve this, leaves much to be desired. As you read, teachers are threatening to down tools, over poor conditions of service, millions with graduate degrees are roaming the streets, most satellite towns in Abuja that they want to have a ‘downtown’ like Market Street in Philadelphia, have no basic amenities, kids in areas like Lugbe, karshi, Gwagwalada (all satellite towns in Abuja), still study under horrible conditions. Able bodied men, who serve the fat cats like Modibbo in Asokoro, Maitama, and Wuse II areas of the capital city, as drivers, cooks, stewards, security guards, etc, live in uncompleted buildings scattered around Gwarimpa, and Berger areas with their families.

We recall how, extremely corrupt and former FCT minister, El Rufai destroyed homes businesses and dreams under the guise of beautifying Abuja. He spent over N600 in his mad moments of demolition. Poorly paid women who augmented earnings with makeshift eateries in front of their homes were threatened with felony charges . He said he wanted Abuja to look like London. Now we know he reallocated those plots to himself, families, and members of his gang. At a point he banned commercial cyclists (Okada), and unpainted taxis)(,kabu kabu) He even imported some black cabs , just like the ones in London.

Question is, is this silly Boulevard the most pressing need of Abuja residents, or Nigerians. There are thousands of areas begging for 10 per cent of N50billion. Electricity, job creation, facilities in schools, minimum wage, portable water, affordable accommodation, etc.

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Just like some us said at the outset of this hapless administration…it will be business as usual. Yar’Adua is incompetent and corrupt just like his mentor, Olusegun Obasanjo. A Country where people like Liyel Imoke is Governor after wrecking the energy industry, or killers like Iyiola Omisore is senator, and a corrupt assassin like Ibrahim Babaginda, still get front seats, and a man who is inept and most of the time on life support, can be President, anything can happen .

But what can the that poor lad, or woman with a baby strapped to her back, hawking phone cards or sachet water( pure water) in traffic in Abuja do…PRAY.

 

By Churchill Umoren